The University of Mauritius (UoM) in collaboration with the UNCTAD Virtual Institute, held a workshop April 21-22 with the goal of fostering better understanding of the nature of international trade and instruments, including policies related to trade.

Participants were selected from a pool of trade and economic analysts, university lecturers, members of chambers of commerce, researchers, exporters, staff of export associations and Masters level students from Mauritius and the English-speaking African countries.

Thirty-five students, instructors and members of the trade and financial sectors examined quantitative research methods and tools during a workshop organized by the Virtual Institute for Senegalese Vi member, Cheikh Anta Diop University. The workshop was held April 14-17 in the Faculté des Sciences Economiques et de Gestion (FASEG) of the university.

Under the direction of Marco Fugazza, of UNCTAD's Division on International Trade in Goods and Services and Commodities, the four-day workshop was broken into eight sessions dealing with trade data analysis tools and research issues, such as the link between trade and poverty, trade protection and tariffs, international investment agreements and multilateral negotiations.

Twenty-two students and lecturers from the Master's Programme in International Trade Policy of the University of the West Indies' Shridath Ramphal Centre took part in a Virtual Institute Study Tour May 11-22.

According to the university, the activity, now in its fifth year, "is an integral part of the programme, which provides students with an unparalleled opportunity to see trade in action. Students have access to meetings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UNCTAD, and attend lectures at various international organizations in Geneva. In addition, students are also afforded the opportunity to interface with Ambassadors representing the regions' trade policy."

In 1991, students from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) were invited to participate in the  International United Nations Model in Luxembourg.  However, as the experience was mostly focused on the political area,  the economic activity and UN economic structures and organizations were not covered by the agenda of the Moscow International UN Model.

The inspiration for the idea of organizing a Model UNCTAD came to mind when MGIMO  became a member  of the UNCTAD Virtual Institute network, and the first group of students participated in a study tour  of Geneva-based international organizations in April, 2008. This student  initiative was supported by   professors of the Department of International Economic Relations.

The Universidad de Chile's International Strategy and Trade Policy diploma, now in its third year, will take place July 13 to November 30 in Santiago.

Tailored to the needs of professionals and executives in the public and private sectors, the programme (in Spanish) also addresses pre- and post-graduate students interested in international trade.